How to Grow Agave americana Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Century plant Mediopicta Alba

Century plant mediopicta alba
Agave americana mediopicta alba photograph by Juan Ignacio 1976.

Agave americana Growing and Care Guide

Scientific Name: Agave americana
Common Name: Century plant mediopicta alba
Growing Zone: USA: 8 to 11
Life Cycle / Plant Type: Indoor Plant, Perennial, Succulents and Cacti

Plant Details

Plant Height (Inches): 72 to 120
Plant Spread (Inches): 72 to 120
Time of Bloom:
Flower Details: White, Yellow
Leaf Foliage: Blue, Silvery
Fruit:
Growth Form: Rounded

Ideal Growing Conditions

Best Light Conditions: Partially shady to full sunlight
Rate of Growth: Grows slowly
Suitable Soil Types: Acidic, Adaptable, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy, Neutral, Sandy, Slightly alkaline, Well drained
Soil Moisture: Dry

Caring Conditions

Care:
Level of Maintenance: Medium
Propagation: From offsets taken in spring or autumn
How to Prune: Not usually required
Pests: May be attacked byscale insects
Diseases: Usually pest free

Further Information

Can Attract:
Tolerant of: Drought, Dry Soil
Best Garden Use: Container, En masse , Rock garden, Seashore, Specimen
Family: Asparagaceae.
Closely Related Species: Asparagus densiflorus and Yucca plants.
Miscellaneous: Entices birdlife to the garden, Attractive foliage, North American native, Naturalizing, Some parts are poisonous, Flowers are rare, Blooms are very showy
Genus Detail: Agave
Further Reading and References: Here and Here

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Agave americana. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Ophiopogon and Polygonatum plants.